Vibes won't cut it when selecting your models. Here's what actually works: establish concrete benchmarks tailored to your specific use case first. Then run rigorous tests across multiple dimensions—reasoning capability, document grounding accuracy, tool integration reliability, and output variance under different conditions. The data tells the real story. Don't fall for brand names or hype cycles. Evaluate models based on their actual behavior and performance metrics. The model that delivers results for your workflow is the one worth deploying, regardless of its reputation in the community.